This is Bart, a recent addition to our household. He's 11 months old. Bart was one of two puppies born to a female whose owners abandoned her at a boarding kennel a couple of years ago.

Our original plan was to leave the two puppies with the kennel until they grew up a little, have them neutered, and let them convalesce at the kennel before bringing them home. We had first considered calling them Bonnie and Clyde, but since they were siblings those names might sound a bit incestuous. So we settled on Bart and Lisa (Yes, after the brats in "The Simpsons".) Unfortunately, Lisa was sickly since shortly after her birth and she died at the kennel before the adoption.

It had been a long time since we had a puppy in the house and we had forgotten how much attention they require. Bart's a typical pup - playful and curious about everything around him. We can't leave him alone for long or else he'll chew something up beyond repair.

We realize he'll settle down as his neutering kicks in but for now we have to watch him constantly. So far, he hasn't destroyed anything important but we've had to mop up his pee a few times. (There's something to be said for adopting older dogs.)